He raised an eyebrow. "You claim not to know me? Of course…
“He raised an eyebrow. "You claim not to know me? Of course I'm Thoth. Also called Djehuti. Also called--" I [Sadie] stifled a laugh. "Ja-hooty?" Thoth looked offended. "In Ancient Egyptian, it's a perfectly fine name. The Greeks called me Thoth. Then later they confused me with their god Hermes. Even had the nerve to rename my sacred city Hermopolis, though we're nothing alike. Believe me, if you've ever met Hermes--”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Thoth explains his many names and the confusion with Hermes, highlighting cultural misidentification and the persistence of identity.
In simple terms: Thoth points out that his name has been changed and mixed up over time.
Recognize and respect original identities.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic study
- museum curation
- traveling in Egypt
- teaching world religions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we preserve cultural identities when translating across languages?
- What responsibilities do we have when naming places after deities?
Names can be altered or misunderstood across cultures, leading to loss of original meaning.